WWU Department of History

04/24/2025

Give Day 2025 is here! Consider participating by donating and/or spreading the word to your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.

The study of history is essential to a liberal education. For decades, students have been choosing WWU because it is one of the rare universities where a future-driven education is supported by a strong liberal arts philosophy. The tangible skills students build is elevated by our thoughtfulness and ability to consider the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of the actions we take. With every generation of students, we deepen our perspectives on what it means to be boldly innovative and compassionate because furthering equity, justice, inclusion, and diversity will be our greatest legacy.

Here in the Department of History, we prepare students for thoughtful participation in public affairs, further education, and a wide range of careers by fostering an appreciation of the diversity of human cultures and experiences, the development of research and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively, especially in writing. Our department is committed to academic excellence and providing curricular offerings dealing with the fullest possible range of locations, cultures, and experiences. Our courses encourage critical thinking, rigorous inquiry, and intellectual growth. Studying history brings students out of themselves to reflect on how the experiences of the past can help us better understand the challenges of the present.

That’s why knowledge of history is vital for our shared democracy. That’s why History matters.

For more information, visit our Give Day Page! https://wwugiveday.wwu.edu/giving-day/92520/department/92538

Every gift makes a difference! While we thank donors for their generosity today, we are thankful for the impact they have on our students every day of the year.

06/21/2024

Congratulations to our 2024 Presidential Scholar, Max Stone! 🎓 This double major (history & philosophy) & double minor (holocaust & genocide studies & honors interdisciplinary studies) student served on the WWU Board of Trustees, captained the men’s rugby team, & was president of the Philosophy Club.

Max says, "The history major allowed me to fulfill my lifelong interest in the discipline while contextualizing my studies in philosophy & greatly improving my writing skills."

When asked about the Presidential Scholar, Prof. Peter Pihos said, "I had the best experience a faculty member can have, which is to say, I learned a lot from Max."

For the full interview, please visit our website: https://chss.wwu.edu/history/presidential-scholar

06/20/2024

Congratulations to Marianne Kelly, another one of our 2023-24 Outstanding Graduates!🎓

Marianne says, "I ultimately chose history because it enabled me to combine my interests—namely political philosophy, geography, & literature—& understand them more fully by placing them within their historical context."

For the full interview, please visit our website - https://chss.wwu.edu/history/marianne-kelly-outstanding-graduate

06/18/2024

Congratulations to Sophia Cornell, another one of our 2023-24 Outstanding Graduates! 🎓

Sophia says, "I’ve always enjoyed learning about history, & this is one of the things that drove me to the Marine Corps. I became a history/social studies major because I wanted to continue to serve my community as a high school teacher."

For the full interview, visit our website - https://chss.wwu.edu/history/sophia-cornell-outstanding-graduate

06/17/2024

Congratulations to one of our 2023-24 Outstanding Graduates, Aaron Gibbs!🎓

Aaron says, "As soon as I made the decision to become a history major as an undergrad, I knew my goal was to teach early American history at the college level. An MA was the next step, & the strength of WWU’s early Americanist faculty was a significant draw for me. I could not have made a better choice!"

Find the full interview on our website: https://chss.wwu.edu/history/aaron-gibbs-outstanding-graduate

06/05/2024

Read Prof. Daniel S. Chard’s review of T.K. Wilson’s “Killing Strangers: How Political Violence Became Modern”!

“Synthesizing broad historiography & social science literature with compelling analysis of newspapers, memoirs, statistics, & other primary sources, “Killing Strangers” offers a refreshing new historical interpretation of political violence in Europe & North America over the longue durée of late modernity.”

Full review in the link below!

Published in Terrorism and Political Violence (Ahead of Print, 2024)

04/26/2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in Give Day - we raised $2,093 with the help from 25 generous donors!🎉

We ranked 4th in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences Donor Challenge - even though we didn't win 1st place, we're happy to see so much support for the humanities!

Each gift to our history department allows us to continue offering quality educational opportunities to all students. We are committed to academic excellence & providing curricular offerings dealing with the fullest possible range of locations, cultures, & experiences - your gift helps make this possible.

Thank you for your support! Each donor will be receiving a thank you letter & History Department sticker in the mail soon!

If you're interested in donating & missed Give Day, donations are open all year - we appreciate any contribution to the success of our department. For more information, please visit https://alumniq.wwu.edu/giving/to/History

04/25/2024

Today is WWU Give Day! Thank you to those who have already donated - We've currently raised over $1,000 with gifts from 14 donors!

Please consider participating by donating &/or spreading the word to your friends, family, neighbors, & coworkers. Every gift makes a difference!

Your gift allows the History Department to continue adding resources to the History Library, hosting guest speakers, funding student conference & research travel, & providing scholarships.

Studying history brings students out of themselves to reflect on how the experiences of the past can help us better understand the challenges of the present. A knowledge of history is vital for our shared democracy—This is why History matters & why your donation matters.

For more information, please visit https://wwugiveday.wwu.edu/giving-day/76338/department/76356

Thank you for your support!

$250,000 match to the Western Welcome Scholarship!

04/24/2024

Tomorrow is Give Day! Consider participating by donating &/or spreading the word to your friends, family, neighbors, & coworkers. Every gift makes a difference!

Your gift allows the History Department to continue adding resources to the History Library, hosting guest speakers, funding student conference & research travel, & providing scholarships.

Studying history brings students out of themselves to reflect on how the experiences of the past can help us better understand the challenges of the present. A knowledge of history is vital for our shared democracy—This is why History matters & why your donation matters.

Find more information here:
https://wwugiveday.wwu.edu/giving-day/76338/department/76356

03/15/2024

Congratulations to our MA student, Phoenix Walker, for his recently published article in Outhistory! Read more about “The High Risk Project Society: Intracommunity Support in Transgender Vancouver, 1992-2001” in the link below:

An exhibit on the High Risk Project Society, which supported trans people in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in the 1990s and early 2000s.

02/02/2024

History department’s Professor Christine Johnston has a new article with co-authors Lindy Crewe and Artemios Oikonomou, “Innovation and Adaptation: Ceramic development across the Middle to Late Cypriot horizon.”

Find their new publication in the volume, “Dynamics and Developments of Social Structures and Networks in Prehistoric and Protohistoric Cyprus” - link below!

This volume substantiates the island of Cyprus as an important player in the history of the ancient Eastern Mediterranean and Near East, and presents new theoretical and analytical approaches. The Cypriot Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age are characterised by an increasing complexity of social...

01/10/2024

Our 2023 History Department Newsletter is now available!🗞️

Want to know what’s happening in the History Department? What do faculty work on outside of the classroom? Do you wonder what happens to alumni after graduation? Read our newsletter to find out!

Visit our website (link below) or pick up a printed copy in BH 364.

Looking through recent newsletters, I am struck by ongoing claims that the Humanities are not viable majors, and departments at many universities are under siege from administrators who have accepted this misguided rhetoric. Indeed, the number of degrees conferred nationally in these fields, includi...